About:

Dr. Meng Wang is an Assistant Professor in Environmental Systems Engineering. Her research focuses on the environmental biotechnology for pollution control, resource recovery and environmental sustainability. She combines physical-chemical processes with biological process to improve the system stability and the resource recovery efficiencies. Her research uses experimental work and mathematical modeling to guide the design and operation of the treatment systems. She is interested in developing the innovative food-energy-water systems for resource recovery, public health and food security.

Research Projects:

Combined ion exchange and biological processes for wastewater treatment
A major source of N is high ammonium strength wastewaters, such as industrial wastewaters (e.g. food processing, fertilizer, plastic industries), landfill leachate, source separated urine and centrate from anaerobic digestion. These wastewater streams are challenging and expensive to treat. Zeolites are natural hydrated aluminosilicate materials with a high affinity for ammonium ions. Zeolite can be used as the ion exchange media to mitigate the toxicity of ammonia to microorganisms. This study intends to combine the ion exchange with biological wastewater processes for high ammonium strength wastewater treatment and improve system stability. A mathematical modeling will be developed to improve the understanding of the underlying physical, chemical and biological mechanisms.

Algae-based wastewater treatment for nutrient management and resource recovery
Algae can improve biological wastewater treatment processes through synergistic interactions with prokaryotic microbial communities. In particular, algae can provide the dissolved oxygen required for aerobic heterotrophic metabolism and nitrification through photosynthesis. In addition, algal-prokaryotic biomass can be harvested and used for biodiesel or valuable chemical production or anaerobically digested for biomethane production. This study explores the impact of operational conditions on the microbial communities of algae-based wastewater treatment systems, and the potential of value-added product that can be extracted from harvested biomass.

Bioremediation
The lead scavenger 1,2-dibromoethane (EDB), a former additive to leaded gasoline, is a common groundwater contaminant. However, not much knowledge is available for its targeted bioremediation, especially under in situ conditions. This study evaluated the co-substrate, such as phenol, on the enhanced biodegradation of low concentration of EDB in contaminated groundwater.